The Red Dragon and Lhasa

Set off through the red dragon land to Lhasa, the place of the gods. Along the way,experience China's rich diversity and illustrious history on a journey that will take you from Beijing and Xi'an to Yunnan and the roof of the world.

What we love

Traversing the length and breadth of China, from north to south and east to west before ascending to the roof of the world

Experiencing the fabled cities of Shangri-La and Lhasa, where Tibetan life and spirituality has thrived for centuries

Learning about the different threads of the rich tapestry that is the red dragon land and Tibet

Basic Itinerary

About This Trip

Starting in the "red dragon's" capital Beijing, you'll travel to former capital Xi'an, through the cobblestone streets of Yunnan, and end up in the fabled lands of Shangri-La and Lhasa. As you traverse the country, you'll understand why the various cultures of these areas have fascinated travelers for centuries. Beijing and Xi'an are highlights of China's imperial might while Dali and Lijiang are laidback old towns. Shangri-La and Lhasa are legends in and of themselves, centers of Tibetan life and spirituality.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Old Beijing

Tibetan Buddhist Culture

Tibetan Buddhist Culture

Dali Old Town

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day1|4

Beijing

Begin your Beijing adventure in style as WildChina arranges private access to the concept store and gallery of Ma Ke's fashion house, Wuyong. • Explore the imposing Forbidden City, where emperors ruled for 500 years • Hike up jingshan and take in a commanding view over the Forbidden City • Weave your way through Beijing's ancient, interwoven hutong alleys • Uncover a treasure trove of Qing Dynasty curios in the Temple Hotel • Peking duck dinner • Enjoy a champagne picnic on the majestic Great Wall, built to protect China's heartland from invaders

Day5|6

Xi'an

Learn the calming art of taichi in a private lesson on Xi'an's ancient city wall • Visit the grand Taoist Temple of the Eight Immortals • View the proudly unflinching Terracotta Warriors • Learn about Xi'an's 1,300 year old Muslim community by visiting the Great Mosque • Walk on a glass walkway above countless terracotta figurines and burial objects in the Hanyang Tombs

Day7|9

Dali

Learn the process of making China's most famous drink in a tea plantation at the foot of the soaring Cang Mountain • Travel back in time by walking around Dali's picturesque old town, a mixture of pagodas, red lanterns and mountains • Join a traditional "Three Course Tea" ceremony with members of the Bai minority • Immerse yourself in the traditional Bai architecture of Xizhou, characterized by ornate gateways and honeycomb patterns • Learn the secrets of making rushan, a local cheese • Hike up Taoist Weibao ("Magnificent Treasure") Mountain, where you will learn to meditate with a Taoist master • Retrace the steps of traders past along the Ancient Tea and Horse Road to a Chinese Muslim village

Day10|12

Lijiang

Continue along the Ancient Tea and Horse Road to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lijiang, taking a break in the historical market town of Shaxi • Explore the small paths and canals that weave through Lijiang's Old Town

Day13

Shangri-La

Wander through the gilded pillars and incense-filled rooms of Songzanlin Monastery • Follow the narrow, winding lanes of Shangri-La Old Town pasty white stupas and lively outdoor markets • Continue along the Tea and Horse Caravan Road to ephemeral NapaLake • Visit an artisan village where local craftsmen knead, fashion, and fire products of black clay • Partake in a festive Tibetan-style farewell dinner

Day14

Lhasa

Acclimatize to Lhasa's elevation and spend the day at your leisure • Recommended: follow along the Barkhor pilgrimage route to see prayer wheels being spun, pilgrims prostrating, and hear sutras being chanted

Day15

Visit the gilded Jokhang Temple, which attracts a large number of pilgrims due to it being considered the most sacred temple in Tibet • Explore Potala Palace, Tibet's defining religious landmark, a grand masterpiece of white, crimson and gold famed for being the former residence of the Dalai Lama

Day16

Be greeted by the phrase "om mani padme hum" as you visit Pabongka Monastery • Hike downhill to Chupsang Nunnery, surrounded by green fields and home to 80 red-robed nuns • Witness monks animatedly debate Buddhist philosophy in the courtyard of Sera Monastery, one of Tibet's top university monasteries • If interested, learn about thangka, a colorful Tibetan Buddhist form of painting, or visit local NGOs

The Opposite House Beijing

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments

All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary

All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

All services of WildChina English-speaking guide(s)

All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax

Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What's Not Included:

International & domestic flights and relevant taxes

Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders

Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance

Meals apart from those included in the itinerary and alcohol

Expenses of a personal nature

Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary

Discretionary gratuities for guides and chauffeurs

Tour Reviews

My wife and I are vegan and were pretty worried about our ability to find decent food, but our guides were very helpful at identifying appropriate restaurants and checking with restaurant staff to make sure the dishes we ordered were vegan. Shelly in particular was the perfect combination of knowledgable, fun, flexible, kind, interesting, and accommodating. We were truly sad to say goodbye to her at the airport, and I suspect my wife is already thinking about making another trip to Yunnan province to visit her again!

Shelly Zhang is/was the family friend we never knew we had. A powerhouse personality. Super energetic, friendly and funny. We loved her. She went WAY out of her way to create some truly memorable, super cool, authentic cultural experiences - from cooking food we bought at a local market, to teaching us mahjong, to connecting us with local Bai, Naxi and Yi families in Dali (a truly amazing, non-touristy place), to taking us to some of the best farm-to-table restaurants we've ever been too. Can't thank her - and you, of course! - for providing such a memorable experience for our family.

D.C. , Jul 2019

We recently had an 8 day trip to Beijing and Shanghai put together by Wild China. They did an outstanding job! Attention to details and flexibility in schedule were top notch. The on the ground guides were awesome and provide an extremely professional/friendly experience.

When going back to China...Wild China will be our first and only stop when booking.

SIMILAR JOURNEYS

Talk to us - The Red Dragon and Lhasa

Need more information?

Email a trip designer atinfo@wildchina.com. Tell us what you’re dreaming of, thinking of, or just have questions about. Within a business day, you’ll have your very own trip designer on the case.

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 8808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We’re available from 9am – 6pm, local time.

Ready to plan your trip?

If you have an idea of the journey you’d like to take, please fill in the form below. According to your preferences and travel style, we’ll assign you a personal trip designer. They’ll reach out within one business day and work with you to create your perfect itinerary.

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Talk to us - The Red Dragon and Lhasa

Need more information?

Email a trip designer atinfo@wildchina.com. Tell us what you’re dreaming of, thinking of, or just have questions about. Within a business day, you’ll have your very own trip designer on the case.

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 8808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We’re available from 9am – 6pm, local time.

Ready to plan your trip?

If you have an idea of the journey you’d like to take, please fill in the form below. According to your preferences and travel style, we’ll assign you a personal trip designer. They’ll reach out within one business day and work with you to create your perfect itinerary.

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Need More Information?

Give us a call or schedule the best time for you by emailing us your preferred call-back time. Our team in Seattle can be reached on +1 888 902 808 (GMT -7), or you can reach us in our Beijing office on +86 10 6465 6602 (GMT +8). We're available from 9am - 6pm, local time.

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